f Uiiiv.  of  111.  Library 

^ KJ  r \i 

D2.V  2. 2.  A.  t.  A.  LIBRMtT 
NGBGt 


THE  TRANSFER 

OF  THE 

* Newton  Free  Library 


TO  THE 


CITY  OF  NEWTON. 


THE  TRANSFER 


OF  THE 


NEWTON  FREE  LIBRARY 

TO  THE 


CITY  OF  NEWTON: 


INCLUDING  THE 

ADDRESSES  OF  HON.  J.  WILEY  EDMANDS,  MAYOR  SPEARE,  HON. 
JAMES  F.  C.  HYDE,  REV.  B.  K.  PIERCE,  D.D.,  JOHN  S. 
FARLOW,  ESQ.,  and  GEORGE  H.  JONES,  ESQ., 


CITY  ORDINANCE  RELATING  TO  THE  LIBRARY, 


WITH  THE 


NAMES  AND  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  CITY  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES. 


PUBLISHED  BY  ORDER  OF  THE  CITY  COUNCIL. 


BOSTON: 

FRANKLIN  PRESS:  RAND,  AVERY,  & 00. 

1876. 


2fA»(T/ 


Oo?  7.  c2  <2. 

N loSUX. 


CITY  OF  NEWTON. 


City  Hall,  April  15,  1876. 

By  a concurrent  order  of  the  City  Council,  the  City 
Clerk  was  directed  to  request  the  several  gentlemen  who 
participated  in  the  transfer  of  the  Newton  Free  Library 
to  the  City,  to  furnish  copies  of  their  addresses  on  that 
occasion  for  publication,  with  the  proceedings  incident 
thereto.  The  request  has  been  promptly  complied  with ; 
and  the  addresses,  with  a brief  compilation  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  City  Council  in  connection  with  the 
transfer  and  acceptance  of  the  Library,  is  herewith 
Respectfully  submitted, 

EDWIN  O.  CHILDS, 

City  Clerk . 

■>* 

vj 

(h 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/transferofnewtonOOnewt 


PRESENTATION  OF  THE  NEWTON  FREE  LIBRARY 


TO  THE 


CITY  OF  NEWTON. 


PRELIMINARY  PROCEEDINGS. 

The  following  communication  relating  to  the  trans- 
fer of  the  Newton  Free  Library  to  the  City  of  Newton 
was  presented  in  the  Board  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen, 
Nov.  15,  1875. 

To  Hon.  J.  F.  C.  Hyde,  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Newton,  — 
At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Newton  Free  Library,  held  on 
the  3d  inst.,  a vote  was  passed,  empowering  the  Managers  to  tender 
the  Library  to  the  City. 

The  undersigned  have  been  chosen  by  the  Board,  with  full 
powers,  to  consummate  the  transfer  of  the  franchise  and  property 
of  the  Corporation. 

Pursuant  to  this  vote,  we  have  now  to  inform  you  that  the 
Committee  are  prepared  to  communicate  with  the  Board  of  Aider- 
men  as  to  the  steps  to  be  taken  to  place  the  Library  formally  in 
the  hands  of  the  City  Government;  and  we  await  their  action 
regarding  further  proceedings. 

Your  obedient  servants, 

J.  WILEY  EDMANDS,  ) 

J.  S.  FARLOW,  j-  Committee. 

E.  W.  CONVERSE,  j 


Newton,  Nov.  12,  1875. 


6 


PRELIM  IN AR  Y PRO  CEE  DINGS. 


Upon  the  receipt  of  this  communication,  the  fol- 
lowing order  was  adopted:  — 

In  Board  op  Mayor  and  Aldermen, 
Nov.  15,  1875. 

Ordered , That  the  proposition  of  the  Newton  Free  Library  Asso- 
ciation to  make  a free  gift  of  their  Library,  with  all  its  franchises, 
be  referred  to  a Joint  Special  Committee  of  five,  one  of  whom  shall 
be  the  Mayor,  one  Alderman,  and  three  from  the  Common  Council. 

In  compliance  with  the  foregoing  order,  the  follow- 
ing-named gentlemen  were  constituted  the  Committee 
therein  provided  for,  — his  Honor  the  Mayor,  and 
Alderman  Pettee,  with  President  Allen,  and  Messrs. 
Ward  and  Weed  of  the  Common  Council. 

After  due  consideration  of  the  subject,  the  Com- 
mittee submitted  the  following  order,  which  was 
adopted  in  concurrence  by  the  two  branches  of  the 
City  Council  : — 

In  Board  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen, 
Dec.  20,  1875. 

Ordered,  That  the  City  of  Newton  accepts  the  Newton  Free 
Library  as  a gift  to  the  City,  upon  the  terms  and  conditions  con- 
tained in  the  tender  of  the  same  by  the  Corporation,  and  that  the 
City  of  Newton  hereby  assumes  all  the  obligations  and  the  condi- 
tions of  trust  attaching  to  the  Institution. 

Ordered,  also,  That  a Joint  Special  Committee  be  appointed  by  the 
incoming  City  Council  of  1876  to  petition  the  Legislature  for  the 
necessary  enactment  as  suggested  in  the  opinion  of  the  City  Solicitor. 


Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  new  City  Govern- 
ment for  1876,  and  in  response  to  the  foregoing  order, 


PRELIMINARY  PROCEEDINGS. 


7 


and  the  recommendation  of  his  Honor  Mayor  Speare, 
the  following-named  gentlemen  were  designated  as 
the  committee  to  petition  the  legislature  for  the 
necessary  enactment,  — the  Mayor,  and  Alderman  Rice, 
and  Councilmen  Potter,  Chester,  and  Goodrich. 

In  compliance  with  the  petition  of  this  Committee, 
the  legislature  promptly  passed  the  following  Act : — 

[Chapter  18  : Acts,  1876.] 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  in 
General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  as 
follows  : — 

Section  1.  — The  Newton  Free  Library  may  grant,  transfer, 
and  convey  to  the  City  of  Newton  its  franchise,  library,  and  prop- 
erty, real  and  personal,  for  the  establishment  of  a Public  Library 
therein,  to  be  forever  maintained  by  said  city. 

Sect.  2.  — All  grants,  donations,  or  bequests  heretofore  made 
to  the  said  Newton  Free  Library,  shall,  by  force  of  this  Act,  and  of 
the  transfer  and  conveyance  hereby  authorized,  inure  and  pass  to 
the  City  of  Newton,  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  Public  Library 
to  be  established  and  maintained  therein  as  aforesaid. 

Sect.  3.  — This  Act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 

House  of  Representatives,  Feb.  24,  1876. 

Passed  to  be  enacted. 

JOHN  D.  LONG,  Speaker . 

In  Senate,  Feb.  28,  1876. 

Passed  to  be  enacted. 

GEORGE  B.  LORING,  President. 


Approved. 


Feb.  28,  1876. 

ALEXANDER  H.  RICE. 


Upon  the  passage  of  this  Act,  the  Board  of  Managers 


8 


PRELIMINARY  PROCEEDINGS. 


officially  notified  the  City  Council  of  their  readiness  to 
complete  the  formal  surrender  of  the  Library  to  the 
city.  The  committee  representing  the  City  Govern- 
ment consisted  of  the  following  gentlemen,  — Messrs. 
Gorham  D.  Gilman,  James  F.  Edmands,  J.  Willard  Rice, 
on  the  part  of  the  Aldermen;  and  Messrs.  Dwight 
Chester,  Rufus  Moulton,  and  William  J.  Towne,  on  the 
part  of  the  Common  Council. 

This  Committee  thereupon  proceeded  to  make  ar- 
rangements for  the  formal  reception  of  the  Library  by 
his  Honor  the  Mayor,  in  behalf  of  the  City,  designat- 
ing Thursday  evening,  March  16,  1876,  for  that  pur- 
pose, the  services  to  take  place  in  the  Library  Hall. 
Both  branches  of  the  City  Council,  with  the  heads  of 
Departments,  Ex-Mayor  Hyde,  the  clergy  of  the  city, 
and  other  citizens,  were  invited  to  be  present. 


THE  EORIAL  TRANSFER  OF  THE  LIBRARY 
TO  THE  CITY. 


In  accordance  with  arrangements  made  by  the  Joint 
Special  Committee  of  the  City  Council  and  the 
Trustees  of  the  Newton  Free  Library,  the  formal 
transfer  of  the  Library,  with  its  building  and  other 
property,  real  and  personal,  from  the  care  of  its  Board 
of  Trustees  to  that  of  the  City  Government,  was  made 
on  the  evening  of  March  16,  1876.  There  were 
present  his  Honor  Mayor  Speare,  and  members  of  the 
Board  of  Aldermen,  Common  Council,  and  School 
Committee,  with  officers  of  the  City  Government, 
clergymen  of  the  city,  and  others  interested  in  the 
business  which  had  called  them  together. 

Hon.  J.  Wiley  Edmands,  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  occupied  the  chair  : and  upon  his  invitation 
the  services  of  the  occasion  were  introduced  with 
prayer  by  Rev.  S.  M.  Freeland. 

The  title-deeds  of  the  property,  and  the  keys  of  the 
building,  were  then  tendered  to  the  city,  through  its 
chief  magistrate,  by  Mr.  Edmands,  who  made  the 
transfer  in  the  following  appropriate  words  : — 


10 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  EDMANDS. 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  EDMANDS. 

Mr.  Mayor,  and  Gentlemen  of  the  City  Coun- 
cil,— At  the  last  annual  meeting  of  the  Newton  Free 
Library  Corporation,  a vote  was  passed,  authorizing 
the  Managers  to  tender  the  Library  as  a gift  to  the 
city,  and  empowering  them  to  make  a transfer  of  its 
franchise  and  property,  on  the  city’s  assuming  the 
conditions  of  trust  of  its  present  organization.  In 
accordance  with  that  vote,  the  Library  was  offered  to 
the  city,  and  accepted  by  vote  of  the  Board  of  Aider- 
men,  passed  Dec.  20,  and  by  concurrent  action  of  the 
Common  Council,  Dec.  22,  1875. 

An  Act  having  since  passed  the  legislature,  en- 
abling the  Managers  to  give  up  their  official  trust,  and 
turn  over  the  property,  they  now  meet  you  for  the 
purpose  of  putting  the  city  of  Newton  in  possession 
of  all  that  belongs  to  the  Newton  Free  Library  Corpo- 
ration, including  the  reading-room,  with  its  magazines 
and  journals. 

Acting  in  behalf  of  the  corporation,  I now  sur- 
render to  the  City  Government  the  keys  of  the 
building,  and  place  in  your  hands,  Mr.  Mayor,  the 
title-deeds  of  its  real  estate  and  personal  property. 

The  institution  is  fully  equipped  for  its  work,  and 
adequate  to  the  needs  of  the  time ; and  its  building  is 
capable,  at  a moderate  cost,  of  such  enlargement  as 
the  future  may  require.  Balance  of  cash  funds  on 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  EDMANDS. 


11 


hand  is  $ 2,764.39,  which  will  be  handed  over  to  the 
City  Treasurer.1 

This  formal  ceremony,  Mr.  Mayor,  is  the  consumma- 
tion of  a business  transaction  of  more  interest  than 
ordinarily  attaches  to  such  occasions.  Although  we 
follow  the  conventional  routine  which  is  customary 
when  the  city  takes  possession  of  a new  building,  the 
circumstances  attending  this  acquisition  are  of  infre- 
quent occurrence.  The  occasion  is  an  interesting  one, 
not  solely  from  its  being  a formal  recognition  of  a gift 
to  the  public  now  being  made,  nor  from  the  material 
value  of  the  fine  building,  with  its  contents,  which 
passes  to  the  city.  This  public  ceremony  has  more 
than  ordinary  significance,  as  marking  the  accession  of 
an  institution  of  a distinctive  character  in  promoting 
the  moral  and  intellectual  culture  of  the  community 
at  large.  A free  library,  in  its  relations  to  the  public, 
performs  an  office  peculiar  to  itself,  and  occupies  a 
place  which  no  other  of  the  city’s  institutions  can  fill. 

The  occasion  is  not  without  much  interest  to  those 
who  have  labored  to  make  the  Library  what  it  is, 
whose  feelings  have  been  deeply  enlisted  in  its  welfare 
from  its  inception  to  the  dissolution  of  its  present 
organization. 

A sense  of  the  obligation  which  every  man  should 
feel  to  do  what  he  can  for  the  good  of  the  community 
incited  the  movement  which  led  to  its  establishment, 

1 The  cash  balance  was  increased  $58.53,  collected  for  interest,  making  the 
amount  turned  over  to  the  city  treasurer  $2,822.92. 


OF  ILL  LI3. 


12 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  EDMANDS. 


and  secured  the  co-operation  of  many  friends,  who 
have  given  their  money  and  their  unselfish  services  to 
support  it. 

Its  books  have  not  been  gathered  at  hap-hazard,  to 
give  fictitious  importance  to  its  catalogue  by  the  num- 
bers on  its  shelves,  but  have  all  been  selected  with 
much  care  and  discrimination,  making  up  an  assort- 
ment of  miscellaneous  works  equal,  to  say  the  least,  in 
point  of  merit  and  profitable  reading,  to  the  average 
collections  of  our  public  libraries. 

Early  in  the  history  of  the  Library,  the  enterprise 
lost  the  character  of  an  experiment.  Its  ready  ap- 
preciation by  the  community  gave  evidence  that  it 
had  not  been  started  too  soon.  It  found  friends  to 
come  to  its  support  when  money  was  needed  to  con- 
tinue it;  and  its  steady  growth  has  confirmed  the  most 
sanguine  hopes  and  expectations  of  those  who  joined 
in  establishing  it.  They  well  knew,  that,  however 
fortunate  they  might  be  in  pecuniary  resources,  the 
degree  of  popular  favor  which  the  Library  should 
secure  would  constitute  the  measure  of  its  usefulness. 
There  has  been  no  disappointment  in  this  respect ; and 
the  rapid  growth  and  present  prosperous  condition  of 
the  Library  is  due  to  its  appreciation  by  the  public. 

During  the  past  four  years  (those  of  its  full  opera- 
tion), the  number  of  books  has  increased  over  thirty 
per  cent,  and  the  circulation  forty-one  per  cent ; the 
number  on  the  shelves  at  this  time  being  11,289. 

Since  the  close  of  the  official  year,  Sept.  30,  when 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  EDMANDS. 


13 


the  Annual  Report  of  the  Managers  was  published,  its 
progress  has  been  greater  than  at  any  former  period. 
The  circulation  of  the  five  months  ending  the  first 
day  of  the  present  month  is  32,298  volumes,  being  an 
excess  of  11,862  over  the  same  months  of  last  year. 
This  increase  illustrates  the  growing  disposition  of  the 
community  to  avail  of  the  advantages  of  the  Library, 
and  is  significant  of  what  will,  before  long,  be  re- 
quired, in  enlarged  accommodations,  to  meet  the  wants 
of  our  rapidly-increasing  population. 

A complete  history  of  the  origin,  growth,  manage- 
ment, and  the  present  condition,  of  the  Library,  and 
detailed  information  regarding  its  working  from  year 
to  year,  will  be  found  in  the  book  which  I now  present 
to  you,  as  one  which  may  be  useful  for  reference 
hereafter. 

A free  city  library  is  an  important  adjunct  in  the 
educational  system.  Newton  has  spared  no  pains  or 
expense  on  its  schools ; and  the  acquisition  of  a free 
library  is  one  step  further  in  the  direction  of  edu- 
cating the  community.  The  library,  in  its  formative 
inlluences,  is  to  the  community  at  large  what  the 
school  is  to  the  young  ; each  contributing,  in  its  own 
sphere,  to  the  improvement  of  society. 

It  is  the  province  of  the  school  to  train  the  young 
mind  through  systematic  study,  and  to  discipline  it, 
so  that  it  may  retain  and  assimilate  the  knowledge 
acquired.  School  education  is  to  be  considered  as  a 
means  to  an  end,  — so  to  improve  the  faculties  of  the 


14 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  EDM  AND  . 


young,  that  they  may  be  fitted  by  disposition  and 
ability  to  improve  the  opportunities  for  usefulness  in 
after-life.  The  true  end  of  school  instruction  is  self- 
education,  and  the  library  co-operates  to  that  end, 
taking  up  the  young  at  the  point  where  school 
instruction  leaves  them.  The  seeds  of  knowledge 
planted  in  the  school,  and  germinating  in  after-years, 
often  acquire  their  fullest  growth  and  productiveness 
under  the  favoring  influences  of  the  library.  It  fur- 
nishes the  means  of  self-improvement  to  all,  indis- 
criminately, — the  old  and  young,  the  rich  and  poor, 
the  men  and  women. 

That  school  instruction  which  does  not  develop  and 
result  in  a desire  for  self-improvement  falls  far  short 
of  the  highest  purpose  of  education.  That  scheme  of 
popular  education  is  the  most  perfect,  which  treats  the 
individual  as  the  subject  of  educational  influences 
through  life,  and  prepares  him  to  take  advantage  of 
the  facilities  offered  for  continued  mental  develop- 
ment. When  you  give  free  access  to  the  stores  of 
knowledge  gathered  in  the  library,  you  do  much 
towards  utilizing  school  instruction;  and  it  is  through 
these  available  means  and  facilities  for  self-improve- 
ment, that  you  secure  the  full  fruition  of  popular 
education. 

In  view  of  the  high  rank  which  a city  free  library 
holds  at  the  present  day  in  popular  estimation  every- 
where, your  adoption  of  this  institution  is  of  no  slight 
consideration,  as  adding  to  the  attractions  and  to  the 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  EDMANDS. 


15 


importance  of  Newton  ; and  it  will  be  long  before  any 
municipal  act  will  appear  on  our  city’s  records,  more 
conducive  to  its  prosperity.  A free  library  is  fraught 
with  practical  consequences  affecting  our  community 
for  the  present  and  the  future.  It  is  an  important 
auxiliary  to  the  teacher  in  furnishing  the  scholars  with 
the  books  which  he  may  recommend  as  relating  to  the 
subject  of  their  studies.  It  is  the  source  of  information 
to  the  special  student  and  the  general  reader,  giving  to 
all  who  resort  to  it  — whether  for  general  knowledge, 
or  to  indulge  in  the  beauties  of  literature  — a higher 
estimate  of  their  privileges,  a stronger  attachment  to 
the  locality  where  these  opportunities  are  found,  and 
an  increased  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  community. 
Through  books,  the  learned  men  who  have  impressed 
their  thoughts  on  the  minds  of  past  generations  con- 
tinue to  reign  in  the  realms  of  literature.  The 
printed  book  is  a mirror  of  the  past ; and  the  genius 
and  learning  of  ancient  and  modern  authors  are  now 
as  open  to  the  multitudes  as  were  ever  the  lectures  of 
Socrates  and  Plato  to  the  few  who  listened  to  their 
teachings. 

A free  city  library  has  an  element  of  strength  and 
permanency  in  the  knowledge  which  every  citizen, 
educated  or  uneducated,  has,  that  no  restraints  upon 
the  circulation  of  its  books  can  be  made,  and  that 
its  privileges  and  benefits  are  assured  to  all  classes. 
It  is  to  be  supposed  that  the  ownership  of  our  Library 
by  the  city  will  secure  for  it  an  abiding  popular 


16 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  EDMANDS. 


interest,  surpassing  in  kind  and  degree  that  which  a 
private  or  corporate  association  can  feel  sure  of  hold- 
ing for  the  long  future. 

In  severing  their  relations  with  the  Library,  the 
members  of  the  corporation  are  parting  with  a cher- 
ished object,  and  are  naturally  sensitive  to  any  sup- 
posed risks  incident  to  a change  in  its  control,  from 
their  knowledge  of  the  care  and  attention  it  has 
hitherto  required.  They  indulge  in  a feeling  of  satis- 
faction in  contemplating  their  work  in  building  up  an 
institution  worthy  of  the  city’s  adoption,  and  they  will 
feel  a deep  interest  in  all  that  attends  its  course  here- 
after, ever  solicitous  for  its  prosperity  and  usefulness. 

If  it  were  proper  now  to  make  any  allusion  to  the 
causes  of  the  past  success  of  the  Library,  there  is  one 
prominent  among  the  others,  which  might  be  con- 
sidered pertinent  to  the  occasion,  in  view  of  its  impor- 
tance as  a precedent.  I refer  to  the  policy,  established 
at  its  commencement,  of  keeping  the  Library  free  from 
all  extraneous  influences;  and  the  action  of  all  con- 
nected with  it  has  been  ever  true  to  this  policy.  In  the 
election  of  officers,  in  its  appointments  and  its  man- 
agement, no  sectional,  political,  or  denominational  bias 
or  partialities  have  influenced  its  course  at  any  time. 
We  have  no  concern  regarding  this  for  the  immediate 
future.  All  that  has  transpired  in  connection  with 
your  reception  of  the  Library  evinces  your  appreciation 
of  it  in  all  its  bearings;  and  we. trust  there  will  be  no 
divergence  of  views  on  this  point  by  your  successors 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  EDMANDS. 


IT 


in  office  in  the  length  of  years,  to  jeopardize  its  welfare, 
and  possibly  its  continuance. 

The  Managers  now  resign  their  trust,  with  its  re- 
sponsibilities, to  you,  with  full  confidence  in  the  growth 
and  increasing  usefulness  of  the  institution  under  the 
city’s  control ; and  they  doubt  not,  that  the  considera- 
tion which  it  will  receive  in  your  hands  will  be  com- 
mensurate with  its  benefits  to  the  people,  and  its 
importance  to  the  city.  Edward  Everett  once  said, 
when  speaking  of  the  school's,  “ A school  is  not  a 
machine,  to  be  wound  up  like  a clock,  and  then  left 
to  take  care  of  itself;”  and  this  is  applicable  to  the 
Library,  which  requires,  .not  only  constant  attention 
and  care,  but  the  wherewithal  to  keep  it  in  proper 
working  condition.  Its  collection  must  be  kept  fresh 
by  continued  accessions.  A library,  like  a plant,  will 
soon  pine,  without  adequate  nourishment.  When  its 
supply  of  new  books  fails,  it  ceases  to  grow;  and  cessa- 
tion of  growth  is  the  beginning  of  decay. 

Under  the  fostering  care  of  the  City  Government, 
the  Library  will  maintain  a vigorous  and  prolific 
growth,  amply  remunerating  for  all  that  is  bestowed 
upon  it.  Let  us  hope  that  this  care  will  not  be  di- 
minished by  any  cause,  until  the  Newton  Free  Library 
shall,  by  its  ennobling  influences,  secure  the  interest  of 
every  citizen,  and  become  the  most  valued  of  our 
city  institutions. 

The  important  trust  conveyed  in  the  preceding  ad- 
dress of  Mr.  Edmands  was  accepted,  in  behalf  of  the 
City,  in  the  following 


18 


RESPONSE  OF  MAYOR  SPEARE. 


RESPONSE  OF  MAYOR  SPEARE. 

Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen,  Trustees  of  the 
Newton  Free  Library,  — You  have  placed  in  my  hand 
a deed  which  conveys  to  the  city  of  Newton  your 
“ franchise,  library,  and  property,  real  and  personal,  for 
the  establishment  of  a public  library  therein,  to  be 
forever  maintained  by  the  said  city,”  in  accordance 
with  authority  given  the  Newton  Free  Library  by  the 
legislature  of  our  Commonwealth.  You  have  also 
given  me  the  keys  to  the  main  entrance  of  the  building, 
thus  opening  to  the  City  Council  all  its  opportunities 
and  responsibilities. 

The  city  of  Newton  gratefully  accepts  this  most 
princely  gift  which  it  has  ever  been  the  good  fortune 
of  any  city  in  the  Commonwealth  to  have  received. 

We  accept  not  only  this  beautiful  and  substantial 
building,  — fitly  representing  the  lasting  remembrance 
in  which  you  and  your  associates  will  be  held  by  the 
citizens  of  Newton  in  all  coming  time,  — but  also  the 
results  of  ten  years  of  earnest  thought  and  honest  labor. 
All  this  you  have  freely  given,  asking,  expecting,  and 
receiving  no  other  reward  than  a consciousness  that 
you  have  tried  to  use  properly  the  talents  God  has 
given  you,  whether  those  talents  have  been  the  money 
you  have  contributed,  or  days  and  nights  devoted  to 
the  advancement  of  the  interests  of  the  Library. 

Newton  accepts  this,  another,  its  last,  its  best  school- 


RESPONSE  OF  MAYOR  S PE  A RE. 


19 


house,  — a schoolhouse  which  shall  furnish  opportunities 
for  culture  to  all  its  inhabitants,  from  the  pupil  in  our 
primary  schools  to  the  graduate  of  the  highest  uni- 
versity of  this  or  any  land. 

If  our  children  are  properly  instructed  at  home  and 
in  our  public  schools,  the  desire  is  aroused  for  a wider 
range  of  knowledge  and  breadth  of  culture,  which  li- 
braries alone  can  supply. 

There  are  over  eleven  thousand  carefully  selected 
volumes  in  this  library,  — about  one-third  as  many  as 
there  are  in  the  circulating  department  of  the  Boston 
Free  Library,  exclusive  of  its  branches,  and  three 
times  as  many,  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  inhab- 
itants to  be  accommodated.  You  also  have  attained  an 
average  weekly  circulation  of  over  eleven  hundred 
volumes ; and,  through  agencies  established  in  the 
various  wards,  the  books  are  easily  accessible  to  all  our 
citizens. 

Can  we  too  highly  appreciate  our  public  libraries, 
containing  the  priceless  treasures  of  recorded  knowl- 
edge, wit,  fancy,  and  wisdom  of  the  past  and  present, 
in  all  departments  of  literature,  accessible  to  all  ? And 
in  whatever  line  of  thought  or  avocation  we  desire  fur- 
ther improvement,  we  here  find  it,  ready  at  our  hand, 
“ without  money,  and  without  price.” 

Are  there  any  who  question  the  usefulness  of  such 
an  institution,  or  who  doubt  the  propriety  of  „ its 
acceptance  by  the  city  of  Newton  ? Is  there  a citizen 
who  would  not  have  felt  humbled  and  chagrined,  if  the 


20 


RESPONSE  OF  MAYOR  S PE  A RE. 


City  Council  had  refused  to  receive  it,  or  if  we  should 
not  cherish  it  with  our  best  and  most  vigilant  care  ? 
We  believe  not  one.  On  the  contrary,  as  the  magni- 
tude of  this  gift  shall  come  to  be  fully  appreciated  by 
the  citizens,  so  will  the  desire  to  foster  and  care  for  it 
be  increased. 

The  citizens  of  Newton  never  have  been  parsimoni- 
ous, and  assume  with  pleasure  the  burden  which  you 
and  your  associates  have  thus  far  cheerfully  borne. 
The  benefits  are  for  all ; and  they  all  demand  the  privi- 
lege of  alike  bearing  their  proportion  of  the  responsi- 
bility, and  sharing  the  honor,  of  its  continued  support. 

An  enlightened  City  Council  will  now  take  up  the 
work,  where  you  leave  it,  through  its  appointed  agen- 
cies, and,  profiting  by  your  experience  and  the  co- 
operation which  we  know  you  will  cheerfully  give, 
strive  not  only  to  maintain,  but,  if  possible,  to  increase, 
the  usefulness  of  its  own  Free  Public  Library. 

We  trust  our  fellow-citizens  will  not  forget  that  the 
measure  of  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  it  will 
depend  on  the  manner  in  which  these  books  are  selected 
and  used  by  them. 

Among  those  who  shared  the  responsibility,  pecuni- 
arily and  personally,  in  the  establishing  of  this  Library, 
was  our  lamented  friend  and  fellow-citizen,  David  B. 
Jewett,  one  of  your  trustees  at  the  time  of  his  depart- 
ure from  his  labors  here  to  their  reward  in  the  hereafter, 
and  who  will  long  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance. 

He  left  to  this  Library  a legacy  of  five  thousand 


RESPONSE  OF  MAYOR  SPEARE. 


21 


dollars  ; and  only  the  income  from  it,  we  trust,  will  be 
expended  in  needed  additions  to  the  Library,  the 
principal  forever  remaining  a monument  of  his  wisdom 
and  benevolence,  and  a lasting  incentive  to  others  to 
do  likewise. 

But,  sir,  a small  book,  containing  the  history  of  your 
doings  up  to  this  time,  reminds  me  that  deeds,  not 
words,  have  characterized  your  proceedings ; and, 
while  it  would  be  gratifying  to  call  to  mind  the  more 
minute  history  of  the  inception  and  progress  of  this 
enterprise,  we  will  not  detain  you  with  them,  but  leave 
this  honor  for  those  who  can  better  perform  that  duty. 

Sir,  the  munificent  contributions  made  by  you,  of 
more  than  one-fourth  of  the  amount  expended  in  the 
erection  of  this  building;  and  the  maintenance  of  the 
Library  to  the  present  time,  were  coupled  with  impor- 
tant details  of  organization  and  conditions,  the  wisdom 
of  which  is  thus  early  apparent.  One  of  those  condi- 
tions was,  that  it  should  be  called  “The  Newton  Free 
Library ; ” another,  that  the  building  should  be  of 
enduring  material,  brick  or  stone.  May  the  influence  of 
your  noble  example,  and  the  usefulness  of  this  Library, 
be  as  lasting  as  the  rocks  that  compose  this  structure  ! 

May  God  in  his  goodness  grant  to  us,  and  those  who 
shall  fill  our  places  hereafter,  the  wisdom,  knowledge, 
and  virtue  which  shall  enable  us  to  forever  here  main- 
tain this  “ the  crown  of  our  republican  system  of  pop- 
ular education,”  and  that  it  may  do  its  full  part  in 
bearing  up  and  sustaining  a well  compacted  and  im- 


22 


ADDRESS  OF  EX-MAYOR  HYDE. 


perishable  fabric  of  freedom,  — of  that  freedom  which 
rests  upon  intelligence,  which  must  be  regulated  by 
law,  and  which  can  only  be  maintained  by  piety,  phi- 
lanthropy, and  patriotism ! ” 

Upon  assuming  the  chair,  at  the  conclusion  of  his 
address,  Mayor  Speare  continued,  — 

Mr.  President,  we  have  to  ask  through  you  that 
the  present  organization  shall  retain  their  respective 
positions  and  duties  until  the  City  Council  shall  have 
fully  completed  the  necessary  ordinances,  and  ap- 
pointed the  Trustees  therein  provided  for,  and  they 
shall  be  ready  to  assume  the  responsibility. 

Gentlemen,  we  are  favored  with  the  presence  of  the 
one  who  first  had  the  honor  of  suggesting  that  which 
we  to-night  have  had  the  pleasure  of  consummating. 
I need  not  introduce  to  you,  but  I have  the  honor  of 
presenting  to  you,  the  Hon  James  F.  C.  Hyde. 

ADDRESS  OF  EX-MAYOR  HYDE. 

Mr.  Mayor,  — It  gives  me  pleasure  to  be  present 
to-night  to  witness  the  consummation  of  a thing  so 
desirable  as  the  formal  transfer  of  this  Library  to  the 
city.  I had  the  honor  to  suggest,  in  my  address  last 
year,  that  such  an  arrangement  would  be  a wise  and 
proper  thing,  and  expressed  the  hope  that  measures 
might  be  taken  to  place  this  Library  in  the  charge  and 
under  the  direction  of  the  city. 

Before  the  year  closed,  some  action  was  taken  in  this 


ADDRESS  OF  EX-MAYOR  HYDE. 


23 


direction.  His  Honor,  the  mayor,  my  successor,  ap- 
proving the  measure  warmly,  seconded  the  suggestion 
previously  made ; and,  soon  after  the  inauguration  of 
the  new  government,  votes  were  passed  concerning  the 
matter,  and  application  was  made  to  the  General  Court, 
and  the  necessary  authority  obtained ; and  we  are  here 
to-night  to  witness  the  formal  and  legal  transfer  of  all 
the  property  of  the  Newton  Free  Library,  as  a free 
gift,  to  the  city  of  Newton,  subject  only  to  such  proper 
provisions  as  the  nature  of  the  gift  demands.  Hence- 
forth, these  doors  are  to  swing  open  widely  and  freely 
to  all,  — as  well  to  him  who  pays  but  two  dollars  tax  as 
to  him  who  pays  two  thousand.  Here  rich  and  poor, 
young  and  old,  all,  from  every  part  of  the  city,  may 
come  and  enjoy  the  advantage  of  the  thousands  of 
volumes  that  fill  these  shelves.  In  the  long  roll  of 
years  yet  uncounted,  who  can  tell  what  blessings  may 
come  to  this  and  succeeding  generations  from  a wise 
and  proper  use  of  these  books?  No  city  or  town,  so 
far  as  I now  remember,  has  ever  received  such  a 
princely  gift.  Some  cities  have  had  a sum  pledged,  if 
the  city  would  raise  an  equal  amount;  but  here  all  is 
freely  given.  A large,  convenient,  and  most  substan- 
tial building,  well  adapted  to  the  uses  for  which  it  was 
designed,  with  more  than  eleven  thousand  volumes, 
selected  with  the  greatest  care  by  those  who  inau- 
gurated this  noble  enterprise,  are  now  to  be  transferred 
to  the  city  as  a free  gift. 

The  question  has  recently  been  asked,  How,  consist- 


24 


ADDRESS  OF  EX-MAYOR  HYDE. 


ently  with  my  views  of  economy,  I could  recommend 
and  justify  such  a yearly  expenditure  as  will  be  re- 
quired for  the. support  of  this  Library  and  its  surround- 
ings, and  thus  lay  an  additional  burden  upon  the  poor 
tax-payer.  Can  it  be  a burden  or  a hardship  to  him 
who  pays  a tax  of  two  or  five  dollars  a year,  only  two 
or  five  cents  of  which  would  be  his  portion  contributed 
yearly  to  this  Library,  while  it  may  be  this  same  tax- 
payer has  a family  of  five,  six,  or  ten  children,  each  of 
whom  would  be  entitled  to,  and  might  take,  each  a 
book  a day,  making  an  aggregate  of  thirty  books  a 
week  for  the  smallest  family  named,  if  they  could  find 
time  to  read  as  many  ? 

Certainly  one  might  as  well  calculate  the  interest  on 
his  furniture,  dress,  or  even  the  food  he  eats,  and  seek 
to  use  less  because  thereby  money  would  be  saved. 

I see  around  me  the  men  who  have  given  so  freely 
of  their  time  and  money  to  bring  this  Library,  and  all 
that  pertains  to  it,  to  its  present  most  excellent  condi- 
tion. All  honor  to  them  ; and  I desire  here  and  now, 
in  behalf  of  the  people  of  our  city  who  are  not  here 
to-night,  and  the  thousands  more  who  are  to  come 
after  us,  to  thank  you  all  for  what  you  have  done,  for 
the  great  blessing  you  have  conferred  upon  the  pres- 
ent and  coming  generations  in  this  noble  Library.  Let 
the  city  receive  and  appreciate  it;  and  may  it  be 
the  aim  of  this  and  all  succeeding  city  governments, 
to  care  for  and  watch  over  it,  yearly  voting  a sufficient 
amount  to  make  it  what  our  people  demand,  and  are 
so  able  to  appreciate  and  enjoy. 


ADDRESS  OF  REV.  BRADFORD  K.  PEIRCE,  D.D. 


25 


The  next  speaker  was  introduced  by  Mayor  Speare 
in  the  following  words  : — 

The  School  Committee  are  deeply  interested  in,  and 
intimately  connected  with,  all  the  educational  interests 
of  our  city ; and  I doubt  not  you  will  be  pleased  to 
hear  from  their  talented  and  efficient  chairman,  Rev. 
Dr.  Peirce  of  Newton. 


ADDRESS  OF  REV.  BRADFORD  K.  PEIRCE,  D.D. 

I congratulate  you,  Mr.  Mayor,  in  being  the  chief 
magistrate  of  our  city  at  this  interesting  period,  and 
especially,  that,  on  the  eve  of  one  of  the  most  signifi- 
cant and  important  of  our  centennial  events  (the  17th 
of  March),  you  become  the  organ  through  which  our 
city  receives,  by  the  noble  generosity  of  some  of  her 
citizens,  this  beautiful,  substantial,  and  perpetual  gift. 
This  well  appointed.  Library  does  not  indeed  fall  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  School  Committee;  but  I am 
ready  to  acknowledge  that  it  is  one  of  the  most 
important  and  effective  educational  institutions  of  the 
city.  Every  thoughtful  observer  is  aware  that  the 
school  is  only  one  of  several  almost  equally  powerful 
agencies  at  work  in  accomplishing  the  education  of 
the  children  in  such  a community  as  ours.  It  is 
impossible  to  overestimate  the  influence  and  efficiency 
of  a cultivated  family  in  the  early  development  and 
after-training  of  children,  both  intellectual  and  moral. 
It  is  a matter  of  ready  discovery  in  the  same  schools 


26  ADDRESS  OF  REV.  BRADFORD  IC.  PEIRCE,  D.D. 

under  the  same  teachers,  with  an  equal  proficiency,  in 
the  ordinary  drill  of  these  institutions,  by  the  amount 
of  general  information,  and  familiarity  with  public 
events,  to  find  the  youths  who  are  daily  enjoying  the 
inestimable  opportunities  of  intelligent  conversation 
and  wholesome  reading  at  home. 

The  natural  scenery,  and  the  aesthetic  taste  of  the 
community,  as  displayed  in  both  public  and  private 
forms,  afford  a constant  and  universal  education  for  the 
young,  of  one  of  the  richest  sides  of  their  intellectual 
being.  We  all  know  what  a happy  change  has  been 
effected,  in  our  times,  in  the  training  of  little  children. 
By  object-teaching,  the  senses  are  solicited,  and,  in  the 
most  delightful  manner,  the  mental  faculties  of  the 
little  pupils  are  awakened ; and  learning  is  made  a 
delight  rather  than  a burden.  Our  city,  with  its  varied 
and  charming  scenery,  with  its  fine  embowered  streets, 
its  beautiful  lawns  and  tasteful  gardens,  is  one  immense 
kindergarten,  from  which  our  young  people  are 
receiving  the  profoundest  and  most  wholesome  impres- 
sions. Broad  sides  of  their  nature,  usually  neglected, 
are  thus  constantly  addressed  and  developed. 

There  is  another  powerful  agency  at  work  in  the 
mental  training  of  our  children,  to  which  1 may  be 
permitted  to  allude  ; and  that  is  to  our  cultivated  New 
England  pulpit.  Beyond  its  legitimate  office,  as  the 
interpreter  of  God’s  word  to  man,  and  as  a divine 
embassage,  bearing  a gospel  of  grace  to  sinning  souls, 
our  pulpit,  with  its  well-trained  ministry,  has  had  no 


ADDRESS  OF  REV.  BRADFORD  K.  PEIRCE , D.D.  27 


small  share  in  the  intellectual  training  of  the  people  ; 
in  awakening  mental  life  in  the  community,  in  devel- 
oping general  intelligence,  and  in  arousing  a whole- 
some ambition  for  higher  education  and  liberal 
learning 

Then  comes  the  public  school,  the  pride  and  defence 
of  our  republic.  It  is  not  for  me  to  disparage  this 
institution  as  it  exists  to-day  in  our  city.  It  compares 
well  with  any  similar  system  in  the  country.  Doubt- 
less it  is  open  to  criticism,  and  capable  of  great  im- 
provement. Changes,  some  of  them  quite  radical,  are 
already  going  on  in  our  schools.  It  is  an  era  of  revo- 
lutions ; but  they  are  transpiring  silently,  and  without 
violence  or  open  demonstration,  which  is  by  far  the 
most  hopeful  form  of  their  introduction.  In  ten  years, 
as  we  look  back,  we  shall  be  surprised  at  the  real 
progress  which  has  been  made. 

Our  school-edifices  are  our  chief  public  buildings. 
They  are  structures  of  which  we  have  no  occasion  to 
be  ashamed.  With  one  or  two  exceptions,  they  are  as 
grateful  to  the  eye,  as  they  are  well  adapted  to  the 
service  they  are  called  to  render.  While  some  of  our 
sister  cities,  by  the  accumulation  of  a heavy  debt,  have 
expended  as  much  money,  nearly,  upon  one  high- 
scliool  building  as  all  our  school-edifices  have  cost,  we 
have  as  comfortable,  as  graceful,  and  as  well  appointed 
schoolhouses,  as  the  Commonwealth  affords.  For  two 
generations,  at  least,  our  wooden  structures  will  meet 
all  our  necessities. 


28  ADDRESS  OF  REV.  BRADFORD  K.  PEIRCE , D.D. 

But  after  the  public  school,  what  ? A large  portion 
of  our  youths  finish  their  school  education  with  the 
grammar  department.  They  never  enter  the  high 
school.  Many  leave  before  they  reach  the  highest 
grammar  classes.  Their  minds  have  simply  been 
developed.  They  have  learned  how  to  read,  think, 
and  study.  They  know  but  little ; but  they  have 
secured  the  rudiments  of  all  knowledge.  Without 
higher  schools  or  college,  there  is  no  limit  to  their  prog- 
ress in  literature  or  science,  if  they  are  studious,  and 
the  means  are  at  hand.  Here  comes  the  open  door 
of  the  Free  Public  Library,  soliciting  their  newly 
awakened  intellectual  appetites  with  every  variety  of 
tempting  food.  If  habits  of  reading  and  study  are  not 
formed,  they  will  lose,  through  lack  of  exercise,  nearly 
every  thing  that  they  have  gained;  and  the  schools  will 
be  blamed,  as  they  have  been,  for  profiting  them  in 
nothing.  But,  if  their  tastes  are  awakened  and  culti- 
vated, there  is  no  limit,  but  life,  to  their  possible  attain- 
ments. The  British  nobleman,  who  was  so  surprised 
to  find  the  son  of  his  gardener  reading  La  Place’s 
“ Mechanique  celeste,”  received  a significant  answer 
from  him  to  his  question,  “ How  did  you  become  able 
to  read  and  comprehend  the  work  of  this  great  mathe- 
matician?” "What  more  does  a person  need  to  begin 
with  than  a knowledge  of  the  alphabet?”  was  the 
expressive  answer. 

But  the  library  creates  a higher  intellectual  taste 
in  the  community.  It  becomes  a popular  university 


ADDRESS  OF  REV.  BRADFORD  K.  PEIRCE,  D.D.  29 

with  all  its  professional  schools.  If  the  community 
depends  upon  the  incidental  reading  that  comes  to 
hand,  its  time  will  be  squandered  over  newspapers, 
periodicals,  and  the  least  wholesome  and  elevating  of 
the  innumerable  works  of  fiction,  thrown  out  in  cheap 
forms  from  the  press.  But  where  a large,  well-selected 
library  proffers  it  free  opportunities,  and  where  the 
intellectual  tone  of  the  whole  community  has  been 
inspired  and  elevated  by  its  rich  treasures,  a line  of 
instructive  reading,  in  some  branch  most  in  accordance 
with  the  taste  of  the  youth,  will  soon  be  chosen  and 
pursued,  greatly  to  the  profit  of  the  reader.  It  is  the 
almost  universal  experience  of  those  in  charge  of 
public  libraries,  that  while  at  first  works  of  fiction, 
and  these  not  of  the  most  select  and  improving  char- 
acter, are  in  large  demand,  the  taste  for  them  gradually 
wanes,  as  readers  become  impressed  with  the  breadth 
and  value,  and  interest  also,  of  more  substantial  works. 
Then  works  of  science  and  art,  biography  and  history, 
philosophy  and  poetry,  have  their  opportunity,  and  are 
eagerly  sought  to  administer  their  better  nutriment  to 
the  thoroughly  awakened  appetite  for  knowledge.  It 
is  thus  impossible  to  overestimate  the  value  to  the  city, 
in  all  its  coming  generations,  of  such  a noble  contri- 
bution as  this  Library  to  its  educational  instrumen- 
talities. 

It  is  a pleasant  thought,  that,  unless  some  terrible 
fire  should  sweep  over  this  portion  of  the  city,  the 
edifice  we  are  now  reconsecrating  to  a broader  field 


30  ADDRESS  OF  REV.  BRADFORD  K.  PEIRCE,  D.D. 

of  its  predestined  province  of  public  education,  will 
survive  the  century  upon  which  we  are  now  entering. 
The  surrounding,  somewhat  unsubstantial  edifices  will 
have  accomplished  their  services,  and  been  superseded 
by  others;  but  this  substantial  pile  of  granite,  as 
graceful  in  its  proportions  as  it  is  solid  in  material, 
will  remain,  to  bear  down  to  our  successors  a most 
significant  symbol  of  the  generosity  and  public  spirit 
of  our  citizens,  and  of  the  culture  of  our  city  at  the 
opening  of  its  municipal  life.  It  may  require,  as  we 
hope  it  will,  enlargement  through  the  steady  growth 
of  its  invaluable  contents ; but  its  sturdy  walls  will 
admit  of  another  story,  and  in  front  new  halls  — corre- 
sponding with  the  beautiful  one  in  which  we  are  now 
gathered,  and  preserving  the  fine  architectural  propor- 
tions of  the  graceful  building  — maybe  erected;  but 
the  original  structure  itself  will  stand  as  the  unbroken 
link  between  the  centennial  era  eighteen  hundred  and 
seventy-six,  and  its,  we  hope,  even  more  prosperous 
successor  near  the  close  of  nineteen  hundred. 

As  Mr.  Peirce  resumed  his  seat,  the  mayor  proceeded 
as  follows  : — 

No  enterprise  of  any  importance,  however  well 
endowed  financially,  will  achieve  its  full  measure  of 
success,  unless  there  is  some  one  person  who  has  the 
time,  the  disposition,  and  the  ability  to  largely  take 
the  lead  in  the  necessary  thought  and  hours  of  un- 
known and  unrequited  labor ; but,  fortunately,  this 
undertaking  was  favored  with  one  whose  qualifications 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  F ARROW. 


31 


for  the  place  were  only  excelled  by  his  devotion  to  the 
interests  of  this  Library,  and  who,  for  the  first  four 
years,  presided  over  the  deliberations  of  the  Trustees. 
I refer  to  George  H.  Jones,  Esq. 

On  learning  that  Mr.  Jones  was  not  present,  being 
detained  at  home  by  severe  illness,  the  Mayor  called 
on  J.  S.  Farlow  in  his  stead. 

ADDRESS  OF  MR.  FARLOW. 

I cheerfully  respond,  Mr.  Mayor,  to  your  call  on  me 
to  fill  the  vacancy  in  these  proceedings,  caused  by  the 
absence  of  Mr.  Jones.  You  could  not  have  asked  me 
to  fill  the  place  of  a worthier  man,  or  one  who  has  done 
more  for  this  Library;  and  I assure  you,  sir,  it  will  afford 
me  great  pleasure  to  do  what  I can  to  make  his  place 
good  here  to-night. 

I will  not,  sir,  attempt  to  follow  on  the  line  so  ably 
marked  out  by  the  gentlemen  who  have  preceded  me, 
but  will,  with  your  permission,  indulge  in  some  reminis- 
cences of  the  earlier  days  of  the  Library,  not  so  much 
for  the  laudation  of  those  whose  efforts  have  been  so 
successful  in  its  establishment,  as  for  the  purpose  of 
holding  up  those  efforts  as  an  example  for  others  to 
follow,  in  the  establishment,  in  our  city,  of  other  insti- 
tutions of  like  beneficent  character,  and  to  convince 
them  that  earnest,  persistent  effort  in  such  labors  will 
be  crowned  with  like  success. 

Notwithstanding  the  gratification  the  Managers  of 


32 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  FARLOW. 


tlie  Library  cannot  but  feel  at  this  happy  consumma- 
tion of  their  labors,  there  is  to  them  a tinge  of  sadness 
in  the  proceedings  here  to-night,  — a feeling,  sir,  some- 
what akin  to  that  experienced  by  fond  parents  when 
surrendering  a beloved  daughter  to  the  husband  of 
her  choice ; for  however  well  assured  they  may  be 
in  their  minds  and  hearts,  that,  in  so  doing,  they  are 
promoting  her  greatest  good,  there  is,  nevertheless,  the 
sadness  and  pain  of  separation.  So  with  these  Mana- 
gers ; for,  perfectly  assured  as  they  are  that  the 
greatest  good  of  the  Library  will  be  promoted  by  its 
surrender  here  to  you  to-night,  they  yet  feel  the  sad- 
ness of  a separation  from  the  pleasant  cares  of  many 
years. 

I shall  never  forget,  sir,  and  I do  not  think  any  of 
those  who  were  present  will  ever  forget,  the  meetings 
held  in  Mr.  Bacon’s  parlor  in  the  early  days  of  this 
enterprise.  The  doubts  and  misgivings  that  all  felt 
more  or  less,  as  to  their  ability  to  raise  a sum  suf- 
ficiently large  to  procure  what  every  one  present  at 
those  meetings  admitted  to  be  a necessity  of  the  town ; 
viz.,  a good  library  building , library , and  reading- 
room,  that  should  be  free  to  the  whole  town;  and 
whether,  if  such  were  established,  could  or  would  their 
use  and  benefits  be  availed  of  and  appreciated  by  the 
whole  town,  composed  as  it  was  of  so  many  scattered 
villages.  Fortunately  for  us,  sir,  these  doubts  and 
fears,  and  many  others  that  arose  from  time  to  time, 
were  dispelled  and  overcome.  A favorable  oppor- 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  F ARROW. 


33 


tunity  offered  to  obtain  this  eligible  site ; and  a few 
brave  spirits  at  once  subscribed  the  means,  and  se- 
cured it. 

Matters  rested  thus  for  a while,  until  the  offer  of  a 
munificent  conditional  donation  was  made  by  our 
friend  here  on  my  right  This  gave  renewed  vitality 
to  the  project.  The  offer  was  gratefully  accepted,  and 
promptly  responded  to  by  contributions  more  than 
sufficient  to  fulfil  the  conditions  of  our  friend’s  gift, 
and  to  an  amount  large  enough  to  cover  the  estimated 
cost  of  the  building  and  library.  Before  the  building 
was  completely  finished,  however,  it  was  found  that  in 
this,  as  is  very  often  the  case  with  other  undertakings, 
the  actual  had  exceeded  the  estimated  cost ; and  those 
engaged  in  it  learned,  very  much  to  their  disappoint- 
ment, that  they  were  likely  to  have  a completed 
building  without  complete  means  for  meeting  its  cost. 
This  was  somewhat  embarrassing,  to  be  sure.  But  in 
no  wise  discouraged,  and  acting  upon  the  idea, 

“That  those  would  now  give 
Who  had  not  given  before, 

And  those  who  had  always  given 
Would  give  the  more,” 

they  started  a new  subscription,  and  succeeded  in 
obtaining  the  needed  funds.  The  building  proceeded 
on  to  completion ; the  library  and  reading-room  were 
supplied  with  the  requisite  books,  periodicals,  and 
newspapers ; the  corporation  was  duly  organized  under 


84 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  FARLOW. 


legislative  charter ; by-laws,  rules,  and  regulations 
were  enacted ; and  the  library  and  reading-room 
thrown  open  free  to  the  whole  town. 

Here,  then,  was  an  apparent  fruition  of  the  hopes  of 
those  who  initiated  and  carried  through  the  enterprise ; 
not  really  so,  however,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Managers. 
They  realized  the  fact  that  the  work  could  not  fairly 
be  considered  as  complete , until  suitable  provision  had 
been  made  for  its  future  maintenance  and  improve- 
ment for  a term  sufficiently  long  enough  to  demon- 
strate the  correctness  of  their  early  decision,  that  a 
free  library  was  a necessity  of  the  town.  The  longest 
term  of  service  for  which  any  of  the  managers  were 
elected  was  live  years.  For  such  a period,  at  least,  the 
Managers  felt  it  incumbent  on  them  to  provide  at  once 
the  necessary  funds.  But  how  and  where  were  these 
to  be  obtained?  Every  gentleman  here  to-night  who 
has  ever  had  the  honor  and  good  fortune  to  serve  as  a 
solicitor  of  contributions  knows  full  well  the  labor  and 
difficulties  attendant  even  on  a first  application.  Here 
was  a case,  however,  where  the  field  of  contribution 
had,  it  was  thought,  been  pretty  well  reaped  on  a first 
application,  and,  to  all  appearance,  been  closely  gleaned 
on  the  second.  What  hope,  therefore,  could  there  be  in 
attempting  a third  ? Discussions  in  repeated  meetings 
of  the  Managers  afforded  no  solution  of  the  difficulty. 
Reports  of  sub-committees  appointed  to  consider  and 
devise,  if  possible,  some  course  likely  to  prove  success- 
ful, failed  to  present  any.  Matters  seemed  far  from  en- 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  FARLOW. 


35 


couraging.  It  was  in  this  state  of  affairs,  that  at  one 
of  the  meetings,  the  President  drew  from  his  pocket  a 
letter,  which  he  said  had  been  addressed  to  him  by  a 
secret  anonymous  friend  of  the  Library.  That  letter, 
sir,  contained  a gift  of  four  thousand  dollars  to  the 
Library.  The  turning-point  was  reached.  The  read- 
ing of  that  letter  electrified  all  present:  liberal  sub- 
scriptions immediately  followed,  and  in  a very  few  days 
the  whole  amount  required  was  obtained.  It  was 
some  time,  sir,  before  even  the  Managers  knew  who 
this  secret  friend  was ; and,  to  this  day,  very  few  in 
Newton  know  to  whom  they  are  indebted  for  this 
timely  gift.  We  owe  a great  deal,  sir,  to  all  those, 
who,  by  their  labors  and  contributions,  have  aided  in 
achieving  and  perfecting  this  work  ; but  to  three  men 
pre-eminently  belong  the  honor  and  credit  of  its 
successful  accomplishment;  and  these  deserve  special 
mention  here  to-night. 

I would  name  first  our  esteemed  friend,  the  President 
of  the  Board  of  Managers,  Hon.  J.  Wiley  Edmands, 
whose  munificent  donation  gave  such  vitality  to  the 
work  at  the  outset,  and  whose  continuous  labors  have 
so  materially  aided  us  throughout. 

Next  in  order  is  our  absent  friend,  the  first  President 
of  the  Board  of  Managers,  George  H.  Jones,  Esq  , whose 
unremitting  zeal,  clear,  concise  judgment,  and  unswerv- 
ing fidelity  to  the  cause,  did  so  much  to  make  success 
sure.  I sincerely  regret,  sir,  that  he  could  not  be  with 
us  to-night  to  take  his  proper  part  in  these  proceedings. 


36 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  FARLOW. 


Third  on  this  roll  of  honor  is  the  secret  anonymous 
friend  of  whom  I have  spoken,  John  C.  Chaffin,  Esq. 
A liberal,  open  donor  before,  his  secret  gift  at  a critical 
time  clinched  the  nail  of  success  so  well  driven  by  the 
others  before. 

Now,  sir,  you  have  the  work  completed  here  before 
you  to-night.  Here  it  is : let  it  speak  for  itself  The 
Managers  here  and  now  present  this  Newton  Free  Li- 
brary to  you  in  the  very  flood-tide  of  its  prosperity : 
they  ask  of  you,  sir,  and  of  your  associates  of  the  City 
Council,  and  of  your  successors  in  office,  the  hearty, 
generous  support  such  an  institution  deserves.  Make 
it,  sir,  what  it  has  been  so  well  described  by  others  here 
to-night  to  be,  — a powerful  adjunct  of  the  educational 
system  of  our  city.  Give  it  that  support,  sir ; give  it, 
also,  at  all  times,  the  close  personal  supervision  so 
necessary  to  keep  it  pure.  Hold  it,  as  it  is  now,  and 
has  always  been,  high  above  all  sectarian,  political,  and 
extraneous  influences  whatsoever.  Allow  no  narrow 
views  to  militate  against  the  good  influences  it  should 
at  all  times  exert  on  the  community.  Give  it  these, 
and  depend  upon  it,  sir,  its  success  in  the  future  will 
be  as  well  assured  as  is  its  present,  so  manifest  here 
to-night. 

Note.  — Mr.  Jones  has  very  kindly,  at  the  request  of  the  Mayor, 
furnished  a copy  of  the  remarks  intended  to  have  been  made  by 
him,  had  he  been  able  to  be  present  at  the  meeting ; and  we  insert 
them  here,  very  properly,  as  a part  of  the  history  of  the  Library. 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  JONES. 


37 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  JONES. 

Mr.  Mayor,  — I thank  you  for  the  kind  words  you 
have  spoken  relative  to  my  connection  with  the  estab- 
lishment of  this  Library.  You  are  not  mistaken  as  to 
my  devotion  to  its  interests,  however  much  you  may 
have  overrated  the  value  of  my  labor.  The  discharge 
of  no  public  trust  has  ever  given  me  so  much  pleasure 
as  has  resulted  from  the  positions  I have  occupied  by 
the  favor  of  those  gentlemen  who  were  the  pioneers 
in  the  establishment,  and  the  constant  friends  of  the 
perfection  of  this  eminently  successful  institution. 

No  official  position  was  ever  conferred  by  a constitu- 
ency whose  support  was  more  confiding  than  that  which 
gave  to  the  Building  Committee  full  powers  as  to  the 
erection  of  the  building  and  the  preliminary  steps  in 
the  organization. 

The  citizens  of  Newton  have  ever  recognized  that 
public  benefits  require  public  benevolence,  and  that  the 
giving  must  precede  the  enjoyment  of  the  benefit. 
This  was  eminently  true  in  the  case  of  our  Library. 
Once  and  again  large  sums  were  called  for,  and  in  both 
instances  more  was  given  than  asked  ; and  while,  in 
most  cases  of  the  kind,  many  subscriptions  fail  of 
collection,  we  only  lost  on  collections  one  hundred  and 
ten  dollars  on  about  sixty-five  thousand.  This  amount 
was  given  by  about  three  hundred  persons,  in  sums 
from  five  dollars  to  sixteen  thousand  ; and  who  shall 


38 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  JONES. 


say  that  many  of  the  small  subscriptions  were  not  as 
costly  as  the  larger  ones  to  the  donors  ? 

I claim  it,  sir,  as  one  of  the  crowning  glories  of  the 
establisment  of  this  Library,  that  it  was  thus  built  and 
furnished,  and  that  so  many  can  feel,  in  future  years, 
that,  by  their  assistance,  this  Free  Public  Library  was 
established.  And  now,  sir,  it  has  become  the  Free 
City  Library  of  Newton,  by  free  and  unconditional 
gift. 

I rejoice  at  this  consummation,  and  shall  ever  rejoice 
in  its  increasing  usefulness  and  enlargement.  This  will 
come  from  the  requirement  of  an  intelligent  commu- 
nity, which  ever  seeks  the  improvement  of  existing 
benefits,  and  also  from  an  intelligent  city  government, 
deriving,  in  large  measure,  that  wisdom  which  gives 
value  to  its  action  from  the  stored  knowledge  and  cul- 
ture in  these  alcoves. 

You  have  alluded  to  all  who  have  been  associated 
as  managers  during  the  time  since  the  permanent  or- 
ganization. Permit  me  to  say  that  Newton  never  fails 
to  find  men  suitable  for  her  work.  In  this  case,  it  has 
been  eminently  true  that  men  have  been  found  who 
were  always  in  harmony ; and  I trust  the  institution 
has  felt  the  value  of  this  fact,  and  I believe  it  to  be 
true,  also,  that  each  has  striven  to  advance  its  interests. 

It  is,  sir,  a source  of  satisfaction  to  the  many  friends 
of  this  Library,  that  it  has  received,  in  the  past,  your 
pecuniary  and  moral  support  • and  to-day  we  are  grati- 
fied to  recognize  by  your  words,  that,  in  your  official 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  JONES. 


39 


capacity,  you  will  extend  to  it  that  recognition  which 
accords  with  its  increasing  necessities,  as  the  rapid 
growth  in  population  and  influence  of  the  city  shall 
seem  to  demand. 

Most  truly  has  it  been  said  by  the  gentleman,  who, 
as  the  representative  of  the  Board  of  Managers,  and 
upon  whom  has  fallen,  most  fitly,  the  duty  of  present- 
ing to  you  the  keys  of  this  Library,  and  whose  name, 
but  for  his  choice,  would  have  been  given  it,  that,  — 

“ Early  in  the  history  of  the  Library,  the  enterprise 
lost  the  character  of  an  experiment.  Its  ready  appre- 
ciation by  the  community  gave  evidence  that  it  had 
not  been  started  too  soon.  It  found  friends  to  come 
to  its  support,  when  money  was  needed  to  continue  it ; 
and  its  steady  growth  from  year  to  year  has  confirmed 
the  most  sanguine  hopes  and  expectations  of  those  who 
joined  in  establishing  it.” 

In  future  years,  when  our  beautiful  and  cherished 
city  shall  have  attained  the  size  and  population,  which, 
if  its  past  and  present  intelligent  and  Christian  char- 
acter shall  be  maintained,  as  it  ever  has  been  by  the 
prompt  recognition  of  all  educational  and  moral  exi- 
gencies as  they  arise,  then  will  this  institution  be  found 
foremost  amongst  those  recognized  agencies  of  the  past 
which  have  made  this  city  to  Boston,  what  is  often  true 
of  suburban  towns  and  cities,  the  home  of  a popula- 
tion whose  influence  extends  far  beyond  its  boundaries, 
and  whose  citizens  will  be  recognized  then  as  now, 
worthy  of  position  and  influence,  upon  which  nations 
depend  for  strength  and  greatness. 


40 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  JONES. 


But,  sir,  I will  only  detain  you  to  say,  that,  when  I 
look  over  any  large  assemblage  of  our  citizens,  I am 
impressed  by  the  large  number  of  our  young  men, 
whose  industry,  education,  and  character  is  a guaranty 
of  future  useful  activity;  and  I cannot  but  express  the 
hope  that  these  will  be  early  availed  of  in  the  future 
distribution  of  official  positions  of  the  government  of 
this  institution,  as  well  as  other  offices,  so  that  both  the 
city  and  the  young  men  will  grow  together  in  mutual 
interests  and  dependence,  and  thus  the  name  of  Newton 
continue  to  be  the  synonyme  of  virtue,  intelligence,  and 
Christianity  in  the  future,  as  it  has  been  in  the  past. 

After  the  delivery  of  the  addresses,  the  benediction 
was  pronounced  by  Rev.  Mr.  Freeland ; and  thus  the 
proceedings  of  the  occasion  were  brought  to  a close. 


FURTHER  ACTION  OE  THE  CITY  COUNCIL. 


The  transfer  of  the  Library  to  the  city  having  been 
consummated,  the  following  ordinance  was  introduced, 
and  passed  through  its  various  stages  In  both  branches 
of  the  City  Council : — 

AN  ORDINANCE  RELATING  TO  THE  NEWTON  FREE 

LIBRARY. 

Whereas  the  Trustees  of  the  Newton  Free  Public  Library  have 
conveyed  to  the  city  of  Newton  its  franchise,  library,  and  property, 
real  and  personal,  for  the  establishment  of  a public  library  therein, 
to  be  forever  maintained  by  said  city,  as  appears  by  Act  of  General 
Court,  approved  Feb.  28,  1876  : therefore, 

Be  it  ordained  by  the  City  Council  of  the  city  of  Newton,  that 
the  following  By-Laws  be  adopted  for  the  government  of  said 
Library. 

ARTICLE  I. 

Section  1.  — The  affairs  of  the  Newton  Free  Library  shall  be 
conducted  by  a Board  of  seven  Trustees,  who  shall  be  elected  by 
ballot  by  the  City  Council,  as  soon  after  their  organization  as  may 
be  convenient,  on  concurrent  vote,  as  hereinafter  provided. 

Sect.  2.  — There  shall  be  chosen  one  member  of  the  Board  of 
Aldermen,  and  one  member  of  the  Common  Council,  to  serve  for 
their  elected  term  of  office.  There  shall  also  be  elected  five  Trustees 
at  large. 


42 


FURTHER  ACTION  OF  THE  CITY  COUNCIL. 


Sect.  3.  The  members  at  large  shall  be  chosen,  — one  for  one 
year,  one  for  two  years,  one  for  three  years,  one  for  four  years,  and 
one  for  five  years.  At  each  election  thereafter,  one  member  shall  be 
chosen  for  five  years  ; all  of  whom  shall  hold  tbeir  offices  until  their 
successors  are  elected. 

Sect.  4.  — In  case  a vacancy  occurs  in  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
from  any  other  cause  than  the  expiration  of  term  of  office,  such 
vacancy  may  be  filled  by  the  City  Council,  as  provided  in  Section 
Third. 


ARTICLE  II. 

Section  1.  — The  Board  of  Trustees  shall  have  charge  of  all  the 
affairs  of  the  Newton  Free  Library  and  its  branches,  and  shall 
conduct  the  same  in  the  manner  best  calculated  to  subserve  the 
purposes  for  which  it  was  established. 

Sect.  2.  — • They  shall  annually  choose  by  ballot,  one  of  their 
number  to  be  President,  and  also  a suitable  person,  from  their  own 
body  or  at  large,  to  be  Secretary  for  the  term  of  one  year,  or  until 
others  shall  be  elected  in  their  stead.  Vacancies  in  either  of  the 
foregoing  offices  may  be  filled  for  the  remainder  of  the  year,  at  any 
meeting  thereof. 

Sect.  3.  — The  Board  of  Trustees  may  appoint  a Superintendent, 
Librarian,  and  make  such  other  appointments  as  may  be  necessary 
for  the  proper  care  of  the  Library,  the  building  and  the  grounds,  and 
fix  the  compensation  to  be  paid  therefor.  They  shall  annually 
make  a detailed  report  of  the  affairs  of  the  Library  to  the  City  Gov- 
ernment, and  recommend  such  measures  for  adoption  as  they  may 
deem  expedient. 

Sect.  4.  — The  President  shall  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees.  He  may  call  special  meetings  of  the  Board 
whenever  he  may  deem  it  necessary. 

Sect.  5.  — The  Secretary  shall  keep  a true  record  of  the  doings 
at  the  meetings  of  the  Trustees,  subject  at  all  times  to  the  inspec- 
tion of  the  members  thereof. 


FURTHER  ACTION  OF  THE  CITY  COUNCIL. 


43 


Sect.  6.  — The  Superintendent  shall  have  charge  of  the  Library, 
under  the  direction  and  control  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  He 
shall  make  a full  and  detailed  report  annually,  and  whenever  called 
for  by  the  Board,  of  the  condition  and  wants  of  the  Library. 

Sect.  7.  — All  drafts  or  orders,  and  all  bills  to  be  paid  from  the 
City  Treasury,  shall  be  approved  by  the  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  and  the  Superintendent  of  the  Library. 

Sect.  8. — These  By-Laws  may  be  altered  or  amended,  by  a two- 
thirds  concurrent  vote,  at  any  regular  meeting  of  the  City  Council, 
due  notice  having  been  given  thereof  at  the  preceding  meeting. 

Upon  the  passage  of  this  ordinance,  the  City 
Council  proceeded  to  the  election  of  a Board  of  Trus- 
tees in  accordance  with  the  provisions  therein  set 
forth ; and  the  following-named  gentlemen,  previously 
nominated  by  a joint  special  committee,  were  duly 
elected : — 

From  the  Board  of  Aldermen. 

WILLIAM  W.  KEITH,  Esq. 

From  the  Common  Council. 

WILLIAM  I.  GOODRICH. 

At  Large. 

Hon.  J.  WILEY  EDMANDS  ( for  five  years). 

JOHN  S.  FARLOW,  Esq.  [for  four  years). 

Rev.  BRADFORD  K.  PIERCE,  D.D.  [for  three  years). 

Hon.  JULIUS  L.  CLARKE  [for  two  years). 

Hon.  JAMES  F.  C.  HYDE  [for  one  year). 

At  their  first  meeting,  the  Board  of  Trustees  duly 
organized  as  follows  : — 

President. 

J.  WILEY  EDMANDS. 

Secretary. 

FREDERICK  JACKSON. 


44 


FURTHER  ACTION  OF  THE  CITY  COUNCIL. 


Committee  on  Library. 

The  PRESIDENT,  ex  officio , and  Messrs.  FARLOYV,  PIERCE,  and 

CLARKE. 

Committee  on  Building. 

The  PRESIDENT,  ex  officio,  and  Messrs.  HYDE,  KEITH,  and 
GOODRICH. 

The  Board  also  elected  Frederick  Jackson,  Super- 
intendent; Hannah  James,  Librarian ; and  Caroline 
B.  Jackson,  Assistant  Librarian. 


